ICC asked to look into xenophobic violence in South Africa

What the report says

France24 Africa reported on 24 July 2026 that Ghanaian nationals have asked the International Criminal Court to examine xenophobic violence targeting migrants in South Africa. The request, described in the broadcaster’s evening programme, calls for an investigation after months of attacks and hostility against foreign nationals in the country.

The France24 item did not provide details in the available text on who filed the request, the number of people affected, the specific incidents cited, or whether the ICC has taken any formal step in response. A submission to the court does not by itself mean an investigation will open; the ICC prosecutor would typically assess jurisdiction, gravity and admissibility before deciding whether to proceed.

The development matters because South Africa has faced repeated episodes of anti-migrant violence over the years, often linked to tensions over jobs, housing, policing and documentation. Migrant communities from across the continent, including West African nationals, have at times reported attacks on homes, shops and livelihoods. Any attempt to bring such violence before an international court would raise questions about whether the alleged conduct meets the ICC’s legal threshold.

The same France24 Africa programme also highlighted other regional stories: roughly 20 people were reported killed in an attack in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo attributed to an Islamic State-affiliated armed group, and a report from Ivory Coast warned that coconut trees along the coastline are being reduced by deforestation and rapid urban growth, threatening local ecosystems and an economic sector.